No matter what I do, I will never be good enough for my family, and that doesn’t matter anymore. I need to be the best for me because, in the end, that’s the only opinion which matters.
I know at this moment, defying my father will see me walk through the pits of hell to find my heaven or remain in a non-existent life for eternity.
I choose to walk through the fire.
“Then I choose to be nothing to you,” I tell him, holding his angered stare with my confident gaze.
“I never should have accepted you into this family. You were a mistake born out of a foolish betrayal.” He doesn’t say another word to me, demanding my mother to remove me from the property at this instance. My mother breaks down in tears, her scathing expression mirroring my father.
“A mistake born out of a foolish betrayal…” I repeat, lowering my voice. “I don’t understand?”
“Why did you have to do this? He gave you everything! He gave us everything. I’ve spent your lifetime paying for my mistakes,” she sputters, momentarily beyond words. “I don’t ever want to see your face again.”
Pulling her dress up, she storms off leaving me perplexed.
None of this makes any sense.
My father taking me in.
My mother’s mistakes.
Foolish betrayal.
Then it clicks, all his words, all my mother’s pleas, everything in my life up until this moment. I don’t belong here because I am not his—Edward Carmichael is not my father.
Sebastian has disappeared, he’s nowhere to be seen.
People are walking past me, turning their noses up with their judgmental eyes. I don’t care, I am completely motionless right now, trying to comprehend everything that has unraveled only moments ago.
Aubrey bursts from behind the curtain, reaching out her arms, embracing me as the river of tears collide with her shoulder. The weight of my decision becomes so real I almost feel myself ready to collapse into her arms.
Chance is standing beside her with a mixed expression of sympathy and irritation as Frank, our head security guard, appears beside him.
“Miss Carmichael, your father has requested you leave immediately,” Frank, demands. His expression is remorseful, but I know he has no choice but to follow orders.
“Oi, give the woman a moment,” Chance responds, annoyance present in his tone.
“It’s okay,” I sob, my lips still trembling. “Goodbye, Frank. Thank you for taking care of me all these years.”
Frank extends his arms out to hug me, drawing me into his manly hug. He’d been more of a father to me than my own and saying goodbye to a man who has always protected me is harder than I thought.
Frank leans his head down, lifting my chin with his hand. “You take care of yourself, okay? You’re stronger than you think. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”
I hold onto him tightly one more time before taking Chance’s coat he’s offered for me to wear.
Between Aubrey and Chance, I remain in their embrace as we walk toward their car. Each step becomes a harsher reality, the panic setting in within moments.
“I don’t have a place to stay.”
“Hey, you’ve got a home, okay?” Aubrey reassures me. “Your home is with us as long as you need it.”
We stop at the hotel to pick up their stuff. Aubrey lends me a change of clothes as Chance books us on the next flight home. I have absolutely nothing to my name, exactly as my father had threatened. In two short hours, my father has disconnected my cell, canceled all my cards including my personal banking account which was linked to my father’s main account. I have my driver’s license and social security card. I don’t even own a toothbrush.
He delivered on his promise and left me with nothing.
I was glad to get on the plane back to Los Angeles, equally relieved to see the familiar sight of Hermosa Beach.
But every single thing reminds me of him.
And I don’t know what pain stabbed me deeper. I am drowning no matter which way I turn or try to climb out.
“I’m sorry, honey. It’s our only spare room,” Aubrey apologizes, falling into a digestive silence as we stand in what was once Oliver’s room.
Instantly, I smell him everywhere.
The scent is overbearingly present. It‘s a manly scent mixed with rainforest and a fresh summer’s breeze. It ran through my veins, reminding me of his touch, his skin, the way he caressed every part of me when we made love.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like a train wreck.” I sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing my face into my hands. I am beyond exhausted, my eyes puffy from the constant tears. My body aches as if it has run a marathon. “I have nothing, Aubrey. Not a single cent to my name. I don’t even have fresh underwear.”
“All problems with simple solutions,” Aubrey says, placing her arm on my shoulder. “The universe must be on the good karma trail or something. We have an admin job opening at the law firm, it pays decent enough for you to get back on your feet until you decide what you want to do. Meanwhile, there’s a spare toothbrush in the bathroom cupboard. Brand new, of course. Never use the green one. Chance uses it to unclog the sink.”
The corners of my mouth turn up into a small smile, also making a mental note never to use the green toothbrush. How disgusting.
“First thing tomorrow morning, we’re going to stock up with everything you need. Have you ever been to Target? It’s the one-stop-shop for everything.”
“Target? Aubrey… it’s too much.”
“You can pay us back when you get paid. In installments, of course.”
“I can’t let you and Chance do that.”
“You don’t have a choice. We’re family, and this is what family does,” she reminds me with a smile.
I lean into her shoulder, smiling as we both sit quietly. “Family, huh? Does Pixy agree to
